Fu Wenwen's breathtaking wedding gown had every woman present rising to their feet, eager to behold its captivating beauty…
Thousands of scattered crystal rhinestones adorned the skirt, while the intricately interwoven waist sash accentuated Fu Wenwen's perfect, alluring figure.
The high-neck design further highlighted Fu Wenwen's dignified, gentle, and elegant demeanor.
It sparkled like starlight, akin to a vast river of stars.
"You're so beautiful…" Lu Chengsen gazed at Fu Wenwen before him, lost in a daze.
Seeing Lu Chengsen's stunned, foolish expression, Fu Jing flashed a triumphant smile.
"I'm entrusting my most precious treasure, the one I've meticulously cared for since childhood, to you. If you dare make Wenwen shed even a single tear, I'll break your legs."
As Fu Jing spoke, his own eyes welled up, and he choked out his words.
"Dad, I swear on my life, I will never make her sad," Lu Chengsen declared, kneeling before Fu Jing.
Fu Jing slowly placed Fu Wenwen's hand into Lu Chengsen's, patted Lu Chengsen, and then turned towards Fu's mother.
"Oh, oh, oh! Don't cry, don't cry…" Fu's mother skillfully comforted Fu Jing, holding him as he wept freely in her embrace.
"Your daughter is getting married; you should be happy. You always worried she wouldn't find a man as good as you. Now that she has, you can finally rest easy…"
"Wuwu…" Under Fu's mother's comfort, Fu Jing could no longer hold back his tears.
Fu Wenxuan, standing nearby, snorted softly at his father's unseemly display.
Yet, he turned his head away, wiping away the tears from his own eyes.
The wedding of Fu Wenwen and Lu Chengsen was attended by all the families in Jiangcheng. The gazes of all the women were fixed on the wedding gown Fu Wenwen wore.
Young girls envisioned themselves on their own wedding day, secretly vowing to marry in a wedding gown just like Fu Wenwen's.
Elder Master Lu watched the scene before him, his eyes red. He clutched a photograph of his beloved wife, wishing she could witness Lu Chengsen and Fu Wenwen's wedding.
"Old woman, if only you were here… I would have held you tight and made you wear this wedding gown too…"
Lu Jingyao, arm in arm with Luo Siqi, watched Lu Chengsen and Fu Wenwen on stage. After seeing Lu Chenglin get married, Lu Jingyao expected Luo Siqi to cry.
However, Luo Siqi watched the couple toast everyone on stage with remarkable calm.
"I won't cry. I promised Chengsen I would never cry again," Luo Siqi said, turning to Lu Jingyao and taking his hand.
"You've worked so hard all these years," Luo Siqi looked at Lu Jingyao, the man who had promised to protect her for a lifetime, and who had never broken his word.
Even when their son was taken away, he had cared for her, managed the family business, and never stopped searching for their son. For over twenty years, Lu Jingyao had truly been the one who endured the most hardship.
Yet, he had never complained, not even when she hysterically told him to leave. He had never been angry with her.
"I promised you, and I will keep my word," Lu Jingyao's heart trembled, and he pulled Luo Siqi into his embrace.
This wedding banquet was clearly a great success.
While Fu Wenwen and Lu Chengsen were busy toasting guests, Fu Wenxuan was facing the most severe test of his life.
Looking at the couple before him, Fu Wenxuan regarded Father Chu and Mother Chu, daring not to let his guard down.
The three of them walked into the garden together. Mother Chu looked at Fu Wenxuan and her first words were a refusal.
"Don't think that just because you've climbed into the Lu family, I'll hand Yao Yao over to you. Let me tell you, we don't sell our daughters."
"I never thought of asking you to give Chu Yao to me!" Fu Wenxuan frowned, looking at Mother Chu.
"I know you look down on my background, thinking I can't guarantee Chu Yao's life…"
"It's good that you know. I know your family is considered good among ordinary families, but Yao Yao was raised with meticulous care since she was little. She doesn't even know how to boil water. Do you understand what I mean?"
Mother Chu looked at Fu Wenxuan. She didn't actually dislike him, but she didn't trust him.
More importantly, she didn't believe he could provide Chu Yao with a life free from worry about food and clothing.
"Do you think I want to marry Chu Yao just to have her do chores for me?" Fu Wenxuan asked Mother Chu directly.
"Isn't that so? When ordinary families marry a daughter-in-law, it's to serve the parents, to serve the in-laws, to serve you, and to bear children for you. They have to do everything themselves…"
Mother Chu immediately retorted, "I came from that kind of life; don't try to trick me."
"I never intended to trick you. If I marry Chu Yao, I will ensure she lacks nothing. But I won't guarantee that Chu Yao won't even know how to boil water…"
Fu Wenxuan looked at Mother Chu, not backing down.
"I understand what you mean. I'm just an ordinary person, unworthy of a lady of high status."
"It's good that you understand." Mother Chu paused and nodded. "Chu Yao is not like ordinary girls. When she was young, I wasn't by her side. I only brought her to me when she was three years old. But I discovered that Yao Yao, at three years old, couldn't speak."
"When we went to the hospital for a check-up, the doctor said she couldn't speak. Do you know how much gossip a woman who can't speak will endure?"
"I feel it's my fault, that I owe her. I've cared for her meticulously, so I must be responsible for her and ensure she's always happy…"
Fu Wenxuan listened to Mother Chu's words, falling silent.
Anyone hearing this would think Mother Chu loved Chu Yao immensely, so much so that she didn't want Chu Yao to experience even the slightest hardship, doing her best to smooth out all of Chu Yao's rough paths.
"So you clipped her wings and prevented her from flying," Fu Wenxuan suddenly said.
"What did you say?" Mother Chu paused, not understanding Fu Wenxuan's meaning.
Fu Wenxuan looked at Mother Chu and sighed heavily. "Do you know why Chu Yao likes to be with me?"
"It's definitely because you know how to coax people!" Mother Chu said coldly. What else could be the reason? It must be because his mouth knew how to charm girls!
"I generally don't like talking to female comrades," Fu Wenxuan said lightly.
"Then why does Yao Yao like to be with you?" Mother Chu frowned.
"Perhaps it's because of freedom. Because I don't overprotect her. Because whatever she wants to do, I'll accompany her…" Fu Wenxuan said slowly. Father Chu looked up at Fu Wenxuan in surprise.
"What do you mean?" Mother Chu, however, did not understand.
"The things you wouldn't let her do, I've done them with her," Fu Wenxuan explained.
"For example, you wouldn't let her ride a bicycle, fearing she'd fall. I taught her how to ride a bicycle…"
"For example, you never let her wash dishes or cook. I taught her, and now she can crack eggs…"
"For example, you always told her, 'You can't do this,' 'You can't do that.' I would only say, 'Whatever you want to do, I'll go with you…'"
Mother Chu listened to Fu Wenxuan's words, both shocked and angry.
"You…"
"She is a person, not your pet. She has her own thoughts, and you, with your cage of love, have kept her trapped."